Cannon



3 Sheets- Sheet l.

(No Model.)

G. B. WEBB.

CANNON.

Patented Dec, 24, 1889.

INVENTU R GemfyeEa/'e (No Model.) 3 Sheath-Sheet 2,

G. B. WEBB.

CANNON.

No. 417,800. Patented Deo. 24, 1889.

l e d, x Nfl/11mm my@ WITNESSESZ INVENTR f @.WQ/b/b M JQW 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. B. WEBB:

4 CANNON.

(No Model.)

Patented Dee. 24, 1889.

INVENTOH @feaz'g We/Tb/b WITNESSES:

EL@ Aww iwrrnn Sterns iafrnnr @erica GEORGE B. WEBB, OF NElVARK, NEM JERSEY.

. CANNON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.417,8`00, dated December 245, 1889.

Application filed March l., 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known, that I, GEORGE B. lVEBB, a citizen of the-United States, residing at- Newark, in the ceunty of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementin Cannon; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactk description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had Yto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in those cannon which are built up or composed of separate parts united together in distinction' from those which are cast and forged in one piece or mass or in large masses.

The general purpose of the invention is to so construct a built-up cannon that itv 'will vbetter withstand the severe strains, both the longitudinal and transverse, to which it is subjected at each explosion. This l accomplish partly by the peculiar form of the individual sections or portions of which my iinproved built-up cannon is composed, whereby the saine are interlocked to withstand the strains unitedly, and partly by the manner in which each of said individual portions is wrapped in the process of manufacture, whereby each of said p'ort-ions is strained to or nearly to its elastic limit.r This manner of 'construction and the advantages attained V thereby will be fully described hereinafter, and the peculiar form of the individual sections of which the cannon is made and their mutual relation in the finished cannon are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

` andwill `be also hereinafter set forth.

In said drawings, in which similar refen ence-letters are employed to indicate like portions in' each of the several views, Figure l is a longitudinal section of the cannon, illustrating the construction thereof.- Fig. is i Vside` elevation of a portion of the nnr/lzle Serial No. 229,284. (No modell On Sheet 3, Fig. 5, Ais a top or plan view illustratin the manner of 'constructing the gun. Fig. (5 is a similar View of an arrangement of overlapping plates. Fig. 7 is also a perspective view illustrating a form of plate in which the grooves on opposite sides thereof extend in different angles, and Fig. 8 is a diagram indicating the relative proportions of the body of said plates and the grooves and projections thereon. Fig. f) is a transverse section of a cannon,illustrating holding-shot embedded between the convolutions; l

'The cannon illustrated in said views is composed of a series of convolutions wrapped or wound one around the other and all arranged concentrically around the core which forms the inner. lining or bushing of the bore, the number of couvolutions depend` ing upon the strength desired and the size of the gun. Each of said convolutions ,is composed of a single metallic plate, which is grooved or recessed on both sides there- 0f, and when wound around the "core the grooves and projections on any two contiguous sides of' said plates project one into the other, thereby locking the same inseparably together, as is indicated in Figs. l., 3, (l, and 7.- 'lheplates may be of any suitable width and may contain any number of grooves and projections, those indicated in Figs. l and 2 having four grooves and projections o1' elegeous vto employ plates of: asv large a width as may be readily handled in winding the convolutions around the core. The grooves in the V.plates mov extend longitudinally along oppofsite sides of thc-same and parallelone w1th the other and with the sides of said plates, as in Fig. ,4; or one sideof the plate may be provided with longitudinal grooves thus arranged, while on the opposite side the grooves entend across the plates from side to side thereof yatan y desired angle, as indicated in Fig. 75; or, again, the grooves on both sides of th' plate may extend acrossthe saine, as in- 'si c IOO - tions.

dicated on the top of the plate in l'r'ig. 7, at the same or different angles.

'hen both sides ot' the plates are provided with longitudinally-cxtending grooves, they are so arranged in relation to each other that a groove on one side is directly opposite a projection on the other side, so that the thickness and strength of the plate are practically the same at everypoint. Anotheradvantage of this arrangement is, that the projections" and grooves coincide and fall one linto the ot-her in winding' the concentric eonvolutions around the core.

The relative dimensions of the grooves and projections to the central body ot` the plate, as is indicated in the diagram shown in Fig. 8, may be such that the grooves are about one fourth of the entire thickness of the plate, and in consequence theprojections about the same, leaving the halt of the thickness of the plate solid in the center. This is the same whether thegrooves extend in the same orin different directions. When, however, the width of the plates and the number of the grooves are increased, the depths of said grooves may be more shallow and the body of the plate much thicker relatively.

The core of the cannon, which forms the bore, is composed ot a hardened-steel cylinder formed in onepiece or section, or, if desirable, for convenience in hardening or tempering, the same may be madein several sec- On the outside of the core are provided lgrooves similar to those on the plates, as indicated in Figs. l and 2.

In the breech of the gun is arranged the powder-chamber, which is preferably of much larger internal diameter than the bore and may be of any suitable internal shape, having openings communicating with the biore of the gun on one side and with the opening ,in the breech on the oppositeside, through which the charge isinsertcd into the powder-chamber.

The method of constructing the 'cannon is as follows: The core or sections thereof and the powder-chamber are arranged upon `a. mandrel in a suitable lathe, and to either end of the said core is fastened one end of the plate which is to form the first convolution or winding, said plate being secured to the core bv a screw tapped therein by a clamp or,v

in any suitable manner. The plate being secured, the mandrel and core are then turned in the lathe, and the tirst convolution is wound around the core at such arpitch or angle as will secure the greatest combined transverse and longitudinal strength. Vhen the powder-chamber is of largerdiameter than the core, the first convolution or as" many of the convolutions 'as need be are wound up to the chamber, a nd are secured and cut oft and the winding continued on the opposite side of the said chamber to the end of Y In this manner two, three, or las y the breech. many convolutions as are necessary to provide the desired strength at the muzzle are wound the entire length ot' the gun from the muzzle to the end or' the breech, as inl'lg.

Then at a point situated ata suitable distance .from the muzzle the second group of two or three convolutions is started and continued out to the end of the breech, and at a suitable point on said last-named group ot convolutions a third group is started and wound out to the end of the breech, and soon many groups of as many series as maybe desired may be wound until the gun is finished. In this manner the s1 rength of the gun is located Where it is most needed-viz., around the breech, where the shock of the discharge and explosion is more strongly felt orqis greatest.

In winding on the convolutions the plates are heated to such a temperature as will render them sufficiently pliable, and it may be`- increased to any degree, according to the shrinkage desired of the same around the core and encircling layers.

In windingthe plates or bands the same are strained to or nearly to their elastic limit, so that when the inner convolutions expand under the force of the explosion the outer convolutio-ns do not give way under the outward strain of the inner coils, but hug and re-entorce the same, thereby bearing part of the outward strain of the explosion.

Thus

each coil acts to tje-enforce and to sustain the next inner coil, so that while the innermost coil or convolutions more directly receive the force of the explosion the strain thereof is IOO distributed between all of theconcentric conj volutions. In other words, the couvolutions are wrapped in such a manner that when the inner coil is thrust outward and strained to its elastic limit each succeeding coil is also strained or expanded to such a degree that every one of the concentric coils reaches its elastic limit at the same time. This feature is one of great importance, as one of the most common causes of the bursting of large solid guns especially is the unequal expansion and contraction of the parts thereof.

In winding the concentric convolutions or wrappings around one another they are so applied that each succeeding convolution covers the joint in the next preceding conv lution. This construction gives very great transverse strength to the gun, since the joint' formed by the winding of the plates which extend spirally around the gun is covered its entire length by the next convolution." The .longitudinal strength of the gun is also in# creased by this construction, as a projection on each ot the overlying plates catches in a recess in each of the underlying plates on that side ot the joint away from the imuzzle, so that the tendency of the spreading of the joint is resistedfby the projections" on the overlapping plates on each side of the joint,v

as is illustrated in liigs. 1 and IIO In winding the plates but one tooth or prof jcction is caused to overlap the joint in the.y

next Ypreceding plate or convolution, thusA atasco 3 bringing the joints inthe convoluiions stepwise from the core out to or toward the periphery of the gun, and by thus arranging them so that they lie out of a radial line from the core very great strength is attained.

In wrapping the plates around the core, instead of applying but one plate, two plates, as arranged in Fig. G, may be wrapped at the saine time. rlhe advantage of this is that any tendency of the first convolution to creep or unwind is eounteracted by the encircling convolution, which locks and holds the first convolution in place.

In applying the form of plate illustrated in Fig. 7. the first convolution is wound around the core in the Vordinary manner, and when in place around the core the grooves and projectionsin the outer surface, which extend from side to side of the plate, are bi-'onght into such relation that they form a continuous line of elevations and depressions extending spirally around the gun in an opposite direction to the grooves and recesses on the under side of the plate, so that the second convoi ution is Wound around the first convolution in the opposite direction from that in Which the first convolution is Wound around the core. Thus each succeeding wrapping is wound alternately from right to left and from leftA to right, securing thereby an arrangement of parts which is productive of great strength. To prevent the creeping of the several convolutions, hardened-steel shot may be placed in the grooves during the winding process, and as, the Winding continues are embedded in the heated plates, and thus unit-e them iirmlyat that point, substantially as indicated in Fig. 9. A

Thelgrooves in tlieplates inay be so cut as to have vertical and parallel sides, as in Figs.

l and 6, or said sides may be inclined out- Wardly, as in Figs. 3, 1L, and 7, and the plates maj.7 be of steel, iron, bronze, or any suitable material or metal.

As each succeeding convolution in winding is strained to the elastic limit and is heated, it compresses each inner coi'ivolution, and thus tends to restore them to their normal elastic state. A

In the drawings, A indicates the core, B the powder-chamber, and C the breech-pin, which closes the entrance to the powderchamber and is screwed into the core, and is preferably made hollonT to lighten the weight. and enable the same to be easily handled. Around the core are the concentric convolutions formed by the spirally-Wound plates d,

' provided with .projections d/and grooves (Z2.

Around the end of the muzzle and the beginning of ,each group of convolutions, are rings e, which are shrunk on or otherwise fastened, and which may be smooth on the inner surface or may he grooved to fit on the outer grooved convolution. `Against each of said groups of Wrappings or convolutions are moldings f, which strengthen the parts and `present a more Junished appearance.

g g are the outer plates which cover the groovcd under plates. i

The trunnions 71. are shrunk or swaged on 7o tend entirclyth'rough the bore without the in?, 8o

serted powder-chamber, thus forming the bore of the gun similar to tha-tof an ordinary cannon; but the inanncr of constructing my improved cannon admits of the insertion of a Vpowder-chalnber of any size or shape desired,

and, as the form of construction of the gun greatly increases its strength, hence the dimensions of the powder-eluunber and the size of the charge may be correspondingly increased, and also the eiheieney of the gun. 9o

The relation and position of the joints depend upon the number of projections and grooves in Ithe plates-as, for instance, if each plate has three of each, therevwill be `four convolutions in the same radial ene; i1. four of each, four convolutions will intervene before the joints coincide; hence plates of considerable width will be found more advantageous than narrow plates. Vhilethe grooved 'or corrugated roo plates are considered preferable because of the strength gained byfthe engaginggrooves and projections, yet smooth plates bound or secured together by bolts or screws, as indicated in Fig. 1, ina-y be used, Wound spirally m5 around the core, and a gun of considerable strength secured.

By reference to Fig. l it will be seen. that the trunnion-ring is let into the body of the gun with the concentric rings or plates abut- Ilo tin g against the same on each side thereof. By thus securing the rings the effect of the recoil upon the trunnions is greatly moderated.

I may extend the powder-chamberout to the end of the breech, if desirable, and screw the 115 breech-pin into the same instead of into the core-sections; also, the core itself may be dispensed with and the inner convolution r form the bore of the gun, the plates in this case being -wound directly upon the mandrel. 12o- In lieu of winding the plates in a heated state, they may b e wound cold by the 'use of proper machinery and power.

Vith respect to the metal used in either the core or in the outer convolutions it will 12S be understood that it may vary.

Having thus described my inventio11,what claim is l. A cannon provided with a series of spi-- rally and concentrically Wound plates, a sec- 13o tional core, and a poWder-chamberof larger external and internal diameter than'the core inserted in between the sections of said core,4 for the purposes set forth.

fforc the joints will fall I rally and concentrically wound plates havfing grooves and projections on opposite sides thereof, the grooves and projections on each plate receiving and fitting into the projections and grooves on the next preceding and succeeding plates, for the purposes set forth.

3. A cannon provided with a series of spirally and concentrically Wound plates having grooves and projections on opposite sides thereof, and a corehaving. grooves and projections on the periphery thereof adapted to receive the proj ectionsand fit into the grooves of the next convolution, for ythe purposes set forth. j 4

4. A cannon provided with a series of spirallyl and concentrically Wound plates having grooves and projections on opposite sides thereof, andv a core 4having spirally-formed grooves and projections on the periphery l'thereof to receive the projections and grooves on the next convolution7 and composed of tubular sections abutting one against the other, for the purposes set forth.

5. A cannon havinga series of spil-ally andV f L concentrically wound plates .with.hardened shot or locking-pieces inserted between the said. Wound plates, for the purposes set forth.

6 A cannon having a series of spirally and concentrically wound plates' provided 'with grooves and projections on opposite sides thereof, the grooves and projections on each plate engaging the projections and grooves on the adjoining plates, some of said grooves and projections extending spirally through the cannon in one direction, and others of said grooves and projections extending spirally through the cannon in an opposite direction, for the purposes set forth.

7. A cannon composed of plates wound concentrically and spirally around a tubular core and having grooves and projections on both inner and outer faces, whereby the successive coils are locked together, said plates being strained relatively, wherebywhen expanded said plates reach their elastic limit simultaneously.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of February, 1887.

GEORGE B. WEBB.

.Witnessesz FREDK. l?. CAMPBELL; FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL. 

